Surface rolling apparatus



July 18, 1967 A. BETTINO 3,331,297

SURFACE ROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1965 INVENTOR ANTHONY BETTINO ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,331,297 SURFACE ROLLING APPARATUS Anthony Bettino, 1028 Hall Ave., White Plains, NY. 10604 Filed Jan. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 250,534 8 Claims. (Cl. 94-50) This invention relates to apparatus comprising a cylindrical roller adapted to be heated for compacting and smoothing out thermoplastic surfaces, and particularly for such surfaces as freshly laid hot asphalt on roadways, walks and the like.

For example, certain types of asphalt are laid at a temperature of about 350 F. to 400 F. and the surface of the asphalt is smoothed by rolling with a heated metal roller, which must be maintained at a temperature above a minimum temperature to prevent the surface of the asphalt from sticking to the roller, unless an anti-adhesive material is applied to the asphalt. The application of such materials is undesirable in many instances because of the added cost and the pitting and contamination of the asphalt surface. The minimum temperature of the roller required to prevent sticking may be different for different types of thermoplastic materials, but generally the minimum temperature should not be less than 190 F. for asphalt.

Heretofore, the rollers have been heated internally with gas flames, but difliculty has been encountered in maintaining all portions of the outer cylindrical surface of the roller above the required minimum temperature, because of the uneven distribution of the heat to the cylindrical surface of the roller. In such event some portions of the roller surface were heated considerably above the required minimum and other portions were heated below the required minimum .and sticking occurred in such latter portions, even though the total quantity of heat supplied was sufficient to heat the entire cylindrical surface of the roller to the required minimum temperature.

Furthermore, in such prior rollers the gas flame has been ignited on the inside of the roller. This manner of igniting the gas flame is inconvenient and constitutes an explosion hazard when the gas is ignited after the in side of the roller has become filled with the combustible gas.

It is an object of this invention to uniformly distribute a gaseous heating medium to the internal cylindrical surface of a roller for smoothing and compacting the surface of thermoplastic materials.

Another object of this invention is to control the quantity of heat generated within the roller and uniformly distribute it to the cylindrical surface of the roller to maintain the temperature of all portions of such cylindrical surface above the required minimum temperature to prevent asphaltic material and the like from sticking to the roller.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the dangers of an explosion within the roller when the combustible heating gas is being ignited.

A further object of this invention is to provide a convenient and safe means of igniting the combustible heating gas for the roller to be heated.

A still further object of this invention is to provide heat insulated roller or ball bearings for the heated roller.

The above and other objects of this invention are attained by the construction described in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a surface rolling apparatus embodying this invention in which parts are broken away to dis-close parts that would otherwise be hidden from view; and

3,331,237 Patented July 18, 1967 FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

Refer-ring to the drawing, the rolling apparatus 10 comprises a roller 11 for rolling thermoplastic surfaces. The roller 11 is propelled by a handle 12 attached to a trunnion 13, which is rigidly connected to an opposite trunnion 14 by a surrounding tubular wall 15 of a combustion chamber 15. The trunnions 1-3, 14 and the tubular wall or tube 15 form a rigid axle which is supported in the end walls 11' of the roller 11. The roller 11 revolves around the fixed axle when it is propelled by the single attachment of the handle 12 to the trunnion 13.

The roller 11 is heated internally by a combustible gas under pressure such as propane or butane or the like, supplied from a conventional tank 16 carried by the handle 12. The tank 16 is provided with an outlet 17, which is controlled by a valve stem 18 adapted to be fitted with the usual removable handle (not shown). The gas flows from the outlet 17 to a pressure regulator 19 having a gauge 20 to indicate the pressure of the gas delivered to a flexible hose 21, which is connected to an L- shaped nozzle 22. The pressure of the gas delivered by the regulator is set by the hand wheel 23. One arm of the nozzle 22 forms a handle 24, which is fastened by a spring clip 25 to the handle 12 of the roller. The other arm 26 of the nozzle 22 terminates in an orifice 27 from which the combustible gas issues and forms the heating flame 28 within the tube 15, which may be made of 4 inch wall steel pipe for steam .at 300 lbs. pressure. The quantity of heat generated can be determined visually in a comparative manner by the length of the flame 28, which is controlled by a needle valve in the nozzle handle 24. The needle valve is operated by the hand wheel 29 on the nozzle handle 24. The arm 26 of the nozzle 22 is centered in an axial bore 30 in the trunnion 13 by two projections 31, extending radially from the walls of the bore, and the oxygen for supporting combustion of the gas in the flame 28 is drawn into the combustion chamber 15 with the air through the passage 32 between the arm 26 of the nozzle and the walls of the bore 30.

The combustion gases of the flame 28 escape from the combustion chamber 15' through a plurality of openings 33 which are sufficient in number and are so positioned in the wall 15 that the hot gases are uniformly distributed in the space between the tube 15 and the cylindrical wall 11" of the roller 11. The hot gases are thus distributed evenly over the internal surface of the wall 11" which is uniformly heated throughout its entire surface. A number of openings 34 are formed in the end wall 11" of the roller adjacent to its outer periphery to permit the escape of the hot gases to the outer atmosphere after they have passed in contact with the cylindrical wall 11 of the roller.

Each of the end walls 11' of the roller comprises a dish shaped ring 35 having an outer flange 36 welded to the end of the cylindrical wall 11" of the roller 11. The escape openings 34 are formed in the flange 36. The ring 35 has an inner flange 37 provided with a central opening 38 sufliciently large to receive the tubular wall 15 of the combustion chamber 15. The opening 38 is closed by a dish shaped plate 39 having an outer flange 40 which is secured to the inner flange 37 of the ring 35 by bolts 41 threaded into the flange 37, and spaced around the flange 40. A ball bearing 42 is located in the wall of closure plate 39. The bearing comprises an inner race 43 and an outer race 44, between which the balls 45 are placed. The inner races 43 are frictionally held on the reduced ends 46 of the trunnions 13 and 14, and the outer races 44 are frictionally held in the walls of the closure plates 39. The bearings 42 are retained in the wells by metal plates 47 and are protected from being over heated by the hot gases by heat insulating plates 48 such as asbestos, the plates 47 and 48 being sandwiched between the closure plates 39 and the outer rings 35 and retained in place by the bolts 41. The assembly of the plates 39, 47, 48 and the bearings 42 are retained in the wells of the outer rings 35 without extending outwardly beyond the ends of the cylindrical wall 11" of the roller. This construction enables the roller 11 to roll surfaces extending up to and along projections, such as road curbs, which may extend vertically from the surfaces. The above mentioned assembly of the plates 39, 47, 48 and bearings 42 are substantially the same excepting the closure plate 39 opposite the attachment of the handle 12 completely seals the bearing on the trunnion 14, whereas the plate 39 adjacent to the handle is provided with a central opening to receive the reduced end of the trunnion 13.

It will be understood that the rolling apparatus may be propelled by a tractor as well as manually. As shown herein, a manual hand grip 49 is attached to one end of the handle .12 and the other end of the handle is provided with a sleeve 50 affixed thereto which is slipped over the reduced end of the trunnion 13 and secured thereto by a set screw 51. The trunnion 13 and the sleeve 50 is provided with an axially extending slot 52 for the reception of the nozzle handle 24. The slot stabilizes the handle and enables the sleeve 50 to protect it from being struck against projecting objects along the surface being rolled. The gas fuel tank 16 is supported in a cradle 53 welded to the handle 12, and it is removably secured in the cradle by metal straps 54, each having a slot 55 in one end through which a turn buckle 56 pivotally connected to the cradle 52 is extended and turned. The opposite ends (not shown) of the straps 54 are hinged to the cradle.

Preferably the end of the combustion chamber 15 opposite to the nozzle orifice 27 is spaced about two inches from the adjacent bearing 42 to reduce the transfer of heat to the inner race 43 of the bearing. The end of the combustion chamber 15' adjacent the nozzle orifice 27 is also spaced from the bearing, but may be located closer thereto, because it is cooled by air being drawn in through the passage 32 around the nozzle arm 26 in the trunnion 13.

In the operation of the apparatus from the starting point where the gas in the tank 16 is turned off, the nozzle 22 is first removed from the trunnion 13 by grasping the nozzle handle 24 and pulling it out of the spring clip 25 and the orifice 27 out of the bore 30, where the gas which may issue from the orifice may be lighted. The gas in the tank 16 is then turned on through the needle valve operated by the stem 18. The desired pressure of the gas in the hose 21 is set by the hand wheel 23 as indicated by the gauge 20. The valve 29 in the nozzle handle is turned to permit a suitable amount of gas to be discharged from the nozzle 27 for ignition. After the gas has been ignited at the orifice, the flow is regulated by the hand wheel 29 to obtain a flame of suitable length to deliver the proper quantity of heat to raise the temperature of the outer cylindrical surface of the roller above the required minimum to prevent the material from sticking. The preferred temperature for rolling asphalt is about 300 F. to 350 F. but such temperature may be higher. The characteristics of the flame will be different for different sizes of rolls, but it has been found that a flame 12 to 14 inches in length issuing from a nozzle orifice A of an inch inside diameter will heat a roll 12 inches in diameter and 26 inches in length to the above preferred temperature range. After the flame has been so regulated the nozzle 22 is replaced on the apparatus in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For repairs or inspection, the tubular wall 15 of the combustion chamber may be removed from the roller 11, by first removing housing plate bolts 41 adjacent 1 to the handle 12, and then pulling the wall 15 and the trunnion afiixed thereto through the opening 38 in the ring 35 at the end of the roller adjacent to the handle 12. Of course the opposite housing plate 39 and elements enclosed therein may be similarly disassembled.

The preferred form of rolling apparatus has been illustrated herein, but it will be obvious to those who are skilled in the art, that changes may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and it is intended to cover all such changes that come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces comprising a hollow rotatable cylinder for rolling said surfaces, an end wall afiixed to each end of said cylinder, a bearing in each of said end walls, a tubular wall forming the outer periphery of a combustion gas distributing chamber, suspended and enclosed within said cylinder, saidtubular wall having a plurality of openings arranged along the length thereof for discharging combustion gas towards the inner periphery of said cylinder at points throughout the major portion of the length of said cylinder, each of said end walls having openings therein adjacent the inner surface of said cylinder for discharging said combustion gas from the interior to the exterior of said cylinder, trunnions atfixed to each end of said tubular wall and forming with said tubular wall a non-rotatable axle about which said cylinder is adapted to rotate, said trunnions being supported in said bearings, one of said trunnions having a bore extending from the exterior of said cylinder to the interior of said chamber, and means for supplying combustible gas and combustion supporting gas to said chamber through said bore.

2. An apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying combustible gas to said chamber comprises a nozzle connected at one end to a source of combustible gas and the other end of said nozzle being inserted in said bore in said trunnion, means for quickly removing said nozzle to ignite said gas, and means for inserting and retaining said nozzle in said bore.

3. An apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces as defined in claim 1, wherein said bearings in said end walls of said cylinder are insulated by heat insulating material surrounding said trunnions and interposed between said bearings and said combustion chamber.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said trunnions are axially removable from said bearings in said end walls of said cylinder, each of said end walls of said cylinder comprises a ring secured to said cylinder, each of said rings having an internal perimeter larger than the outside perimeter of said tubular wall of said combustion chamber, a housing plate for each of said bearings, each of said housing plates covering the internal perimeter of said rings and removably secured to said rings whereby upon the removal of one of said housing plates said combustion chamber may be removed from said cylinder through the internal perimeter of one of said rings.

5. Apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces comprising a hollow rotatable cylinder for rolling said surfaces, an end wall comprising a plate fixed to each end of said cylinder, a bearing carried by each of said plates, a tubuular wall forming the outer periphery of a combustion gas distributing chamber suspended and enclosed in said cylinder, said tubular wall having a plurality of openings arranged along the length thereof for discharging combustion gas towards the inner periphery of said cylinder at points throughout the major portion of the length of said cylinder, each of said end walls having openings therein adjacent the inner surface of said cylinder for discharging said combustion gas from the interior to the exterior of said cylinder, trunnions aflixed to each end of said tubuluar wall and forming with said tubular wall a non-rotatable axle about which said cylinder is adapted to rotate, said trunnions being supported in said bearings, one of said trunnions having a bore extending from the exterior of said cylinder to the interior of said chamber, means for supplying combustible gas and combustion supporting gas to said chamber through said bore, the other of said trunnions being removable from its bearing, and means for removing said plate carrying said bearing for said trunnion with the bore therein from the end of said cylinder together with said bearing and said combustion gas distributing cylinder.

6. Apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces comprising a hollow rotatable cylinder for rolling said surfaces, an end wall affixed to each end of the said cylinder, a bearing on each of said end walls, a tubular wall forming the outer periphery of a gas chamber, suspended and enclosed within said cylinder, said tubular 'wall having a plurality of openings arranged along the length thereof for discharging combustion gas towards the inner periphery of said cylinder at points throughout the major portion of the length of said cylinder, each of said end walls having openings therein adjacent the inner surface of said cylinder, trunnions affixed to each end of said tubular wall and forming with said tubular wall a nonrotatable axle about which said cylinder is adapted to rotate, said trunnions being supported in said bearings, one of said trunnions having a bore extending from the exterior of said cylinder to the interior of said chamber, an elongated handle having a portion thereof parallel to the axis of said cylinder and fixed only to said one trunnion, an elongated fuel tank supplying a combustible gas under pressure, said tank being carried by said handle portion and having its long axis parallel to the axle, said tank being close to the cylinder, and a nozzle connected at one end portion by a conduit to the fuel tank and having its other end portion located in said bore in said one trunnion, the diameter of the bore being larger than the external diameter of the other end portion of the nozzle so that there is annular space therebetween over the full length of the other end portion of the nozzle located Within the bore.

7. Apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces as defined in claim 6 wherein the two end portions of the nozzle define an L-shape, the second named end portion being parallel to said axle and the first named end portion being transverse to said axle,

the trunnion with the bore therein having a slot with an open side at the exterior end of the trunnion, the first named end portion of the nozzle extending transversely through said slot, a clamp mounted on the handle and releasably gripping said nozzle to hold the same in place and said conduit being flexible to permit insertion in and withdrawal of the nozzle from the bore.

8. Apparatus for compacting and smoothing thermoplastic surfaces comprising:

(a) a hollow rotatable cylinder,

(b) bearings carried by and located at opposite ends of said cylinder,

(c) a cylinder axle, having its ends journaled in said bearings,

(d) a handle having an end to be grasped by an operator and an intermediate portion extending substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and close to the exterior thereof,

(e) means connecting the opposite end of the handle to said axle,

(f) an elongated fuel tank having its long axis extending along said intermediate portion of said handle, said tank being carried by said intermediate portion of the handle and located close to said cylinder to lower the center of gravity of the apparatus and to minimize the weight of the tank transmitted to the operator,

(g) a nozzle carried by said handle connecting means and having one end extended through one of said bearings into said cylinder to heat the interior thereof, and

(h) conduit means connecting said fuel tank to the other end of said nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,053,572 2/1913 Chatfield 9450 X 1,921,901 8/1933 Anderson 162-2712, 2,671,386 3/1954 Kerridge 9450 2,990,755 7/ 1961 Canfield 9450 3,007,379 11/1961 Ellis 9450 3,052,166 9/1962 Thrun 9448 3,080,800 3/1963 Malzahn 9450 3,105,424 10/1963 Dion 9450 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

N. C. BYERS, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

6. APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING AND SMOOTHING THERMOPLASTIC SURFACES COMPRISING A HOLLOW ROTATABLE CYLINDER FOR ROLLING SAID SURFACES, AN END WALL AFFIXED TO EACH END OF THE SAID CYLINDER, A BEARING ON EACH OF SAID END WALLS, A TUBULAR WALL FORMING THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF A GAS CHAMBER, SUSPENDED AND ENCLOSED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, SAID TUBULAR WALL HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS ARRANGED ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF FOR DISCHARGING COMBUSTION GAS TOWARDS THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID CYLINDER AT POINTS THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID CYLINDER, EACH OF SAID END WALLS HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN ADJACENT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER, TRUNNIONS AFFIXED TO EACH END OF SAID TUBULAR WALL AND FORMING WITH SAID TUBULAR WALL A NONROTATABLE AXLE ABOUT WHICH SAID CYLINDER IS ADAPTED TO ROTATE, SAID TRUNNIONS BEING SUPPORTED IN SAID BEARINGS, ONE OF SAID TRUNNIONS HAVING A BORE EXTENDING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CYLINDER TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER, AN ELONGATED HANDLE HAVING A PORTION THEREOF PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDER AND FIXED ONLY TO SAID ONE TRUNNION, AN ELONGATED FUEL TANK SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE, SAID TANK BEING CARRIED BY SAID HANDLE PORTION AND HAVING ITS LONG AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXLE, SAID TANK BEING CLOSE TO THE CYLINDER, AND A NOZZLE CONNECTED AT ONE END PORTION BY A CONDUIT TO THE FUEL TANK AND HAVING ITS OTHER END PORTION LOCATED IN SAID BORE IN SAID ONE TRUNNION, THE DIAMETER OF THE BORE BEING LARGER THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE OTHER END PORTION OF THE NOZZLE SO THAT THERE IS ANNULAR SPACE THEREBETWEEN OVER THE FULL LENGTH OF THE OTHER END PORTION OF THE NOZZLE LOCATED WITHIN THE BORE. 